Group size for hunting

[woodchucker]

Apples & Oranges......

"Groups" are a compound thing. "Instinctive" shooting is about consistency....
Putting every arrow in the "kill zone" every time. I shoot 1 arrow at a time, Shoot it, and go get it.
If you hit it, Good! If you didn't, figure out "why" on your way to and from the target...

I shoot with a bow quiver & 4 arrows. 3 broadheads and a Judo, just like when I'm hunting...
I take one arrow out to practice, just like when I'm hunting. I start close, 10yds. When I can put EVERY arrow in the kill zone of my 3D deer target, I move back a couple yards. By deer season, I'm usually back to 25-30 yards.

[1Canvas]

I always have shot spots most of the year and move to silhouettes a couple of months before the season.

[GCook]

I always have shot spots most of the year and move to silhouettes a couple of months before the season.

I like to take a 3D animal to my set ups and have a shooting session or two that way as well.

[Bowwild]

Like Orion described, for most of my decades of bowhunting I've used the paper plate as my effective range indicator. I want all arrows on the plate at the distances I consider myself ready to go.

Important note, after developing a result-driven shooting problem that lasted about 10 years (1985-1995), I learned that the process should be the focus, instead of the result. My last thoughts are on follow-through and let the sight picture I imagined take care of the result.

[YosemiteSam]

When I could regularly hit a 6" paper plate from 20 yards, I took my recurve hunting.  Regularly did not mean flawlessly.  Just regularly.  Out here, shot opportunities are rare anyway.

For me, "good" is good enough to go out.  But it's never enough to give up trying to improve.  Whatever it is, it can always be better.

Archery deer & bear just started last weekend.  As usual, I'll spend a little bit of time in the afternoon flinging arrows into a hillside.  If I miss a lot, I'll resolve to keep my shots closer that evening & the next morning.  If I shoot well, I give myself the freedom to take shots out to my max of about 22 yards.  Not that it usually matters anyway.

[Tom1983]

I try to shoot one arrow cold out of my practice stand.  If it's a kill on the 3 D deer, I call it good.  Then get down and shoot some just to get some quality reps

[Nomadic Pirate]

I stopped shooting groups many years ago ( also I don't like breaking nocks  )

I shoot a lot for form, but when I shoot for target I have several aspirin bottle caps stuck to my targets at different hights and distances,....one arrow per cap and rotate the sequence.

[Longrifleman]

I'm lucky enough to to be able to have 9 3D targets on my one little wooded acre of heaven... 4 deer, 2 turkeys, a hog, a coyote, & a grouse. Once September comes, I take my bow on a walk around my homemade course, & shoot 1 arrow at each target. Then I pull 'em all, & go around again from different locations than the first "lap." I repeat as needed... Works for me....

[goingoldskool]

I use a Ace blunt and a tennis ball. When you hit it, the ball can go from a few feet to 20+ yards and sets up the next shot.  It helps me to determine whether or not my quarry it in range or not.
Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,
Rodd

[Eecho]

I use grouping sometimes to check my consistency in form and release. If I'm grouping well after a few shots I move onto shooting for accuracy at different angles, heights and distances. For me distance is between 10-25 yards.